A Madhya Pradesh college has made headlines after their hostel warden allegedly strip-searched 40 female students over a discarded sanitary pad found near one of the toilets.
The incident took place on Sunday at Dr Hari Singh Gour’s Central University, in Sagar district, when the warden, Professor Chanda Ben, was doing a regular inspection and found a used sanitary napkin disposed of carelessly. After stumbling upon the article, Ben got furious and in an attempt to find the person responsible, she asked the hostel staff to strip-search the students to see if they were menstruating.
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Enraged, around 40 students held a protest outside Vice-Chancellor RP Tiwari’s on-campus residence, demanding strict action against the warden’s inappropriate behaviour.
It’s unfortunate & condemnable. I told students that they’re all like me daughter & I apologise to them. I also assured them that an action will be taken in this regard. If warden is found to be at fault an action will definitely be taken against her: RP Tiwari, Vice Chancellor pic.twitter.com/k1PdTm43Q9
— ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2018
Criticising the incident, Tiwari told PTI, “They are like my daughters and I apologised to them. It is very shameful, condemnable and highly painful.” Tiwari added that a three-member committee is now investigating the issue and is due to submit a report within 3 days.
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On Monday, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) also held a protest against the incident wherein ABVP leader Jyotish Pandey demanded that the warden be kept away from work while the investigation is underway.
National Students Union of India (NSUI) leader Rahul Khare submitted a memorandum to the administration, seeking the involvement of retired judges as opposed to university teachers in the probe. Reportedly, sanitary napkins were also distributed amongst the teachers to raise awareness about the matter.
